The central government has named West Kalimantan the best region for investment and has awarded the title of Regional Champions 2011, a local official says.

West Kalimantan Investment Coordinating Board head Yoseph Alexander said on Monday in Pontianak that West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis was scheduled to receive the award in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Radjasa will present the award,” he said as quoted by antaranews.com.

He said that the region deserved the award because it had recorded sustained growth for years. The province received Rp 5 trillion (US$550 million) in investment in 2008. Now, in the first half of this year, the investment realization has reached Rp 9 trillion.

Yoseph said that the unemployment rate had dropped from 11.07 percent in 2008 to 8.5 percent this year.

The region attracts investors mainly for its rubber and palm oil industries, as well as coal mining and smelters.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) plans to visit Turkey to develop partnership in strategic industry and economy with the country, Foreign minister Retno Marsudi said here on Monday at the state palace after a meeting prior to the presidents visit to Turkey and Germany.